People concerned about the number of vans and caravans parked along a public road – and the human waste being found close by – have started a petition to have them removed.
The vehicles, in Carden Hill, Hollingbury, also prompted Conservative councillor Anne Meadows to raise the issue at a Brighton and Hove City Council meeting in December.
One resident, Debbie Davis, started the petition on the Change.org website last Friday (6 February). It had more than 80 signatures at the time of writing.
Mrs Davis said that the community was concerned about the vans, particularly those close to the junction because some of them overlooked Carden Primary School and the Nautical Training Corps (NTC) site TS Zealous.
She said: “There is also a growing concern over the matter of human waste being found in and around the park area.
“As one concerned resident commented, unless someone has trained their dog to use toilet paper – it is human waste.
“This obviously brings sanitation issues into the concerns, especially with the number of people using the park at weekends.”
A generator is running at all times by one of the vans, residents said.
They have met the ward councillors for Patcham and Hollingbury ward – Councillor Meadows and fellow Conservative councillor Alistair McNair – after a court order to move one of the vans was issued on Wednesday 1 October 2025.
As well as the petition, the community is planning for a deputation to a meeting of the full council on Thursday 26 March.
Councillor Meadows said that she was as unhappy as residents about the situation, particularly around safeguarding.
She was told that the council could not store caravans after towing them away and removing an occupied caravan would make people homeless, creating added costs and social problems.
She said: “We are dealing with unhappy residents and concerned adults who have safeguarding responsibilities (TS Zealous) for their charges when in residence at the scout hut.
“I don’t believe this is acceptable and the residents are now taking action themselves through the deputation and petition.
“I believe that officers thought we were doing this on our own and didn’t realise, no, we actually listen to our residents.”
Labour councillor Paul Nann, the council’s cabinet adviser for homelessness, said that he appreciated that some residents were frustrated by the situation but the process took time.
Councillor Nann said: “We start by carrying out a welfare visit to people in new vehicles, encouraging them to move and discussing more suitable locations or accommodation.
“If people do not, we follow this up with a court summons. Once the matter has gone through the courts – a process which can take time – the residents are formally served with a court order.
“Throughout this process, our team continues to engage with the van owners and arrange a leaving date.”
Regulated Van camps, locations with minimum standards, ie no wrecks, only reasonable forms of Van Living, nothing illegal or no tax no mot no insurance means no access, should be paid for by said Van Dwellers at a minimum rate, NB, Regulated, those not playing scrap them, just my thoughts of course but there has to be a way of keeping this off public roads and streets which is not beneficial to the local residents.
As a full time van dweller who moves every day i fully agree with you.
I think that’s the human way to consider it. Treating people with respect means they’re more likely to be respectful in turn. You speak well, Stan.
i feel sorry for these people – why is a decent home like the crowborough camp given to hundreds of migrants but nothing is offered to uk citizens in dire need like these? – a court summons instead – a sad state of affairs
That’s a bit of whataboutism, isn’t it? Shouldn’t both be treated well?
Numbers 2, 3, 6 & 7 of the 10 Pillars of Fascism potentially. Stop reading the Rothermere and Murdoch press, and delete your social media accounts.
It’s the same with the illegally pitched tents on the beach and the alcoves of Dukes Mound, the area is full of human poo!
As a full time van dweller I ensure my van is roadworthy, MOT’d & taxed. I move location usually everyday and never stay in the same location more than 2 nights in a row. I Alternate between (limited) public toilets facilties and my vans built in WC. I would NEVER empty my waste into the road or verges. Permanent vans & caravans give the rest of the van community a bad name. If your van is not legal & moveable, or does not have its own WC facilities, you should not be living in it.
I feel for the van dwellers too. As a local resident I pass them every day and I can honestly say I have not seen anything untoward. They keep themselves to themselves. Yes, some of the vans look unsightly but the majority are not even parked Infront of any homes. Where exactly can they go and park without being victimised ? Is there actually any evidence of any of them using the park or highway as a toilet ? If so, show it . It’s been asked for but the silence was deafening.
I feel the main problem is some people just don’t want them there.
I have read the above comments and agree. I am one of the residents trying to get the council to move these people. This isn’t about NIMBY’sm, these caravans are parked ( for many months) next to a scout hut and primary school, opposite a kids playground. The local children in the area are ‘weirded out’ by late middle aged men in vans parking where they play and walk to school, the one that has been there for 8 months has at least 4 cctv recording cameras on his van, we’ve also found human excrement in the park where the kids play football.
Our petition specifically states that we want a compassionate resolution to this but the council is ignoring all of our many legal representations and not feeding back to us in any way. We therefore feel ignored and ill represented leading to feelings of anger within the local community. Believe me, we have been extremely tolerant but enough is enough.
Hi we drive passed at least once a week and we think this is no way to live for the people who have to live like this let alone for the residents who live with this on a daily basis.
we have the same problem in ditching road next to the golf course human waste left in the bushes the is one of the main roads coming into Brighton and it looks such an eyesore as soon as the council get some caravans to move on then they are back the next day this has been going on for the last 4 years and getting out of hand ,also its very dangerous to cross the road there the council needs to find them a better place at least provide some toilets.
I’m currently staying in Brighton as a tramp (rough sleeper/traveller on foot), and unlike many van dwellers, I face far greater challenges finding toilet facilities. Despite that, I always make the effort to use public toilets.
I’m sure the irresponsible disposal of human waste is down to a small minority, not representative of everyone living in vehicles or on the streets. Blanket criticism or discrimination against all van dwellers (or homeless people generally) isn’t fair or helpful. Better to focus efforts on identifying and addressing the specific individuals causing the problem, while improving access to proper sanitation facilities for everyone in need.